Biggest win? Instant impact? Sleeper to watch? Breaking down UK football’s 2025 class.
After it became apparent that Kentucky football was not extending its eight-season bowl streak in 2024, much of the focus for optimism shifted on encouraging contributions from freshmen.
While nine members of UK’s 2024 high school class played in enough games not to redshirt this fall, none made a huge impact. Still, there were consistent contributions from freshmen like tight end Willie Rodriguez and cornerback Terhyon Nichols. Add in cameos from redshirting freshmen like quarterback Cutter Boley and running back Jason Patterson and there was evidence of quick returns from last year’s high school class.
Now, UK coach Mark Stoops is pointing to the transfer portal as the primary reason for hope for a quick turnaround in 2025, but he will need contributions from the freshmen the Wildcats signed Wednesday on the first day of the December signing period.
Here is what you need to know about Kentucky’s 2025 high school class:
Biggest win: Javeon Campbell — Considering Campbell did not play high school football until his junior year, the quality of his offer list is staggering. In four consecutive weeks in the spring, the Western Hills star visited Miami, Kentucky, Alabama and Auburn before electing to stay home and play for Kentucky. With 20 tackles for loss and 16 sacks as a senior, he backed up his meteoric rise up the recruiting rankings and made himself a must-sign for Kentucky.
Instant impact: Quintin Simmons — The most reliable position for immediate impact for freshmen at UK has been wide receiver. Simmons, who was rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals, might be the best candidate to fill that role in 2025, depending on how many current receivers return and how many receivers UK adds in the transfer portal. Even if he is not a consistent target in the passing game, Simmons could start immediately as a kickoff returner. The fact that he committed shortly after Liam Coen left UK for the NFL adds to the narrative of his importance to the class. He has a close example of how to make an immediate impact to since he played with Nichols at Withrow High School in Cincinnati.
Biggest loss: Marquise Davis — Davis, a four-star Ohio prep running back, would have been the crown jewel in the class had he not flipped his commitment to Missouri three days before signing day. Despite UK’s rushing success in the Stoops era it has actually rarely landed four-star high school recruits at the position. Davis could have flipped that trend and played immediately. Now coaches might have to add a transfer running back to help with depth in 2025.
Sleeper: Montavin Quisenberry — There are real reasons to wonder if Quisenberry’s stellar performance at Boyle County can translate to the highest level of college football. There are just not many 5-foot-9 receivers who turn into stars in the SEC, but there is a reason that UK coaches decided they had to pursue his commitment. Quisenberry totaled 882 rushing yards, 794 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns as a senior. He also intercepted three passes and threw two touchdowns. It will be fascinating to see how UK coaches try to best use his playmaking ability.
Best NFL prospect: Cedric Works — One of the best athletes in the class, Works has the frame at 6-foot-5, 235 pounds to grow into an elite edge rusher. There is work to be done — and Kentucky fans need only to look at the Wildcats’ last two classes to remember much-hyped front seven recruits are not sure things to contribute early in their careers — but Works is the type of prospect UK needs to develop to reduce the reliance on filling holes in the transfer portal every year.
Hometown heroes: Javeon Campbell, Cedric Works, Martels Carter, Montavin Quisenberry — UK signed the top three prospects in the state, according to the 247Sports Composite. It should be noted that Works and Carter started their high school careers in other states, but the staff still deserves credit for landing the top local prospects. Uncharacteristically there were prospects in the state that did not receive much UK interest that signed with marquee programs: Murray defensive back Jeremiah Jones (Nebraska), Cooper defensive lineman Austin Alexander (North Carolina) and Fern Creek defensive lineman Travis Moten (Michigan). Watching those players’ progress will be interesting in the next few years.
Inside the rankings — As of Wednesday afternoon, the 247Sports Composite ranked Kentucky’s class 28th nationally and 14th of 16 SEC programs. Rivals was higher on the class, ranking it 22nd nationally. ESPN ranked UK 26th and On3 ranked the Wildcats 27th.
At the finish line — Signing day week, which the NCAA moved up two weeks this year to help ease pressure on coaches in a hectic December schedule, started on a rough note for Stoops and company with Davis and three-star offensive lineman Tucker Kattus, the younger brother of current UK tight end Josh Kattus, flipping their commitments to Missouri and Clemson respectively, but the staff did at least counter by flipping three-star wide receiver Cameron Miller from Wisconsin and adding three-star defensive back Grant Grayton on signing day.